The Voices of War
The Voices of War is a podcast that goes beyond the simple narratives of war through interviews with refugees, soldiers, negotiators, academics, development workers, and others whose lives have been affected by conflict. The show features survivors, perpetrators, mediators, students, and healers to highlight the complex and multifaceted experiences of war. The host aims to demonstrate that war and peace are not inevitable outcomes but arise from upstream causes, and understanding these is critical for addressing moral and ethical challenges. The project challenges traditional narratives and seeks to offer a clearer understanding of the roots of conflict.
Epizode
139. The Man Who Negotiates Wars Says Disinformation Has Broken Peace | Michael Vatikiotis
Disinformation, peace negotiation, information warfare, conflict resolution, fog of war, back channel diplomacy — conflict mediator and peace negotiator Michael Vatikiotis joins The Voices of War host Vedran 'Maz' Maslic to expose how deliberate deception has made peacemaking structurally impossible. With more cameras, data, and AI-generated content flooding the information space than ever before,
138. The Real War Is US vs China — Iran Is Just the Battlefield | Qinduo Xu
China is sitting on 120 days of strategic oil reserves. That's not unlimited patience — that's a countdown. As the Iran blockade tightens and the Strait of Hormuz becomes the most contested waterway on earth, Beijing faces a question it cannot ignore: how long can strategic restraint hold?
In this episode of The Voices of War, Vedran 'Maz' Maslic sits down with journalist and geopolitical commenta
137. Trump's Hormuz Gamble: A Former Diplomat's Warning | Dr. Bob Bowker
The US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz started today. Iran has promised retaliation. China has issued direct warnings to Washington — and Trump's Iran war strategy may be heading toward catastrophe.
In this episode of The Voices of War, I sit down with Dr. Robert 'Bob' Bowker — 37 years as an Australian diplomat in the Arab world, Ambassador to Jordan and Egypt, intelligence analyst with the Offi
136. Trump's Iran Ceasefire Is a Trap — And Israel Knows It | Willy OAM
The Iran war is over. Or is it just a pause?
In this episode of The Voices of War, host Vedran 'Maz' Maslic sits down with Matthew Williams — Willy OAM — former Australian Army crew commander, Afghanistan veteran, and one of YouTube's sharpest daily conflict analysts, with over 225,000 subscribers and 63 million views. Together they break down the US-Iran ceasefire, Iran's growing global leverage,
135. Is the Iran Ceasefire Real? David Kilcullen's Verdict
A US-Iran ceasefire is now in effect. Trump has declared Iran's ten-point peace plan workable. But is this peace — or just a pause? In this episode of The Voices of War, military strategist and counterinsurgency expert Dr. David Kilcullen breaks down the Iran ceasefire, the Iran war's real strategic logic, and whether the Iran peace plan can survive contact with reality.
With 90% of Iran's navy re
134. Iran Can Wait. The US Can't. Former NATO Advisor on the Changing World Order | Hasan Aygun
Is the US Iran war the end of American global dominance — or the birth of a new world order?
Former Turkish diplomat and senior NATO advisor Hasan Aygun joins Maz to break down the Iran Israel war, US foreign policy collapse, and the accelerating global power shift reshaping international relations in 2026.
Iran news cycles miss the bigger picture. This isn't just Trump Iran posturing or iran nucl
133. Iran War Framing vs. Reality: The Pattern Nobody's Discussing | Vedran 'Maz' Maslic
All 18 US intelligence agencies have confirmed on the record: Iran does not possess nuclear weapons and is not currently building one. Yet the Iran war machine is in motion. The US-Iran war is being justified on contested — and deliberately ignored — intelligence.
In this episode of The Voices of War, Maz breaks down the Iran war explained from the ground up. Not through headlines. Through pattern
132. Netanyahu Waited 40 Years for a President Reckless Enough to Attack Iran | Professor Zlatko Hadžidedić
Benjamin Netanyahu recently admitted he'd spent 40 years waiting for an American president willing to attack Iran. In Donald Trump, he finally found one.
But was this a strategy — or a panic?
Professor Zlatko Hadžidedić, one of the Balkans' most incisive geopolitical minds, argues it's neither chess nor grand design. It's a desperate gamble by a declining empire that didn't fully understand what i
131. Iraq Faces Collapse as Iran War Threatens the Region | Dr Ghassan Jawad Kadhim
The Iran war is no longer contained. As tensions escalate across the Middle East, Iraq is emerging as a critical battleground — caught between Iran, the United States, Israel, and armed groups operating within its own borders.
This episode breaks down the Iran war, Iraq conflict, Middle East war dynamics, PMF Iraq, Kataib Hezbollah, US forces in Iraq, and the growing risk of regional escalation.
I
130. Trump's Iran Strategy Reveals a Collapsing World Order | Vedran 'Maz' Maslic
Trump, Iran, global order, rules-based order, Mark Carney, US decline, world order, China, Russia, BRICS, international law, and Western decline.
This episode examines whether Trump’s Iran confrontation reflects strategic calculation or the breakdown of the US-led order. I look at American hegemony, global power shifts, spheres of influence, and what a post-Western order could mean for internation
129. Lebanon Trapped in US-Israel-Iran War: What Happens Next? | Nadim Shehadi
As the fallout from the US and Israel's ongoing Iran war spreads, we examine the broader regional impact, particularly for Lebanon.
Lebanese economist and political analyst Nadim Shehadi joins me to discuss the implications of the Iran US war for the country, deeply exposed to the middle east war's shifting power dynamics.
This episode explores the complex geopolitics news surrounding the confli
128. Trump's Iran War: Strategic Confusion With No Way Out | Dr. Samir Puri
Trump's Iran War: Strategic Confusion With No Way Out | Dr. Samir Puri
What happens when the world's most powerful military goes to war with no clear objective and no exit strategy?
Dr. Samir Puri — former UK diplomat, Chatham House director, and bestselling author of Westlessness — joins Maz fresh from the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi, where he sat in the room with Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister
127. Are Australia's New 'Hate' Laws Really About Israel? Vedran 'Maz' Maslic
*** As this episode contains clips from other sources, I recommend watching it on YouTube on this link: https://youtu.be/uenKNmiHP10
Australia has just passed sweeping new "hate-speech" laws. Former Army officer and Bosnia war refugee Vedran ‘Maz’ Maslic warns they could be used to silence criticism of Israel even from Jewish scholars and peace activists. In this solo monologue, Vedran breaks his
126. Top 10 Conflicts That Could Explode in 2026 (And Why They’re Connected)
Is 2026 the year of global conflict escalation?
In this in-depth conversation, Richard Atwood, Executive VP of International Crisis Group and host of Hold Your Fire! podcast, discusses the top 10 conflicts to watch in 2026 and how Trump's foreign policy is reshaping global order.
Richard Atwood, one of the world's leading conflict analysis and prevention experts, draws on 20+ years of field resear
125. Betrayed: Brigadier Dan Fortune, DSC and Bar, Exposes Military Hypocrisy
In this episode of The Voices of War, Maz speaks with Brigadier (Ret.) Dan Fortune, DSC and Bar, a retired SASR commander and one of Australia’s most decorated special operations officers, reflecting on leadership, accountability, and the human cost of Australia’s war in Afghanistan.
Dan served extensively within SASR Sabre Squadrons as both an enlisted operator and later a commissioned officer.
124. Australia's War in Afghanistan—Told From Inside the SASR
In this episode of ‘The Voices of War’, Maz sits down with two former Australian special operations officers whose careers unfolded at the sharp end of Australia’s longest war in Afghanistan.
Vando served 24 years in the Australian Army, including 16 in special operations with the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR). Across 10 deployments to Iraq, East Timor, the Solomon Islands, North Africa and
123. Israel Is Collapsing From Within - Ilan Pappé Explains Why
Is Israel beginning to collapse from within?
In this in depth conversation, renowned Israeli historian Ilan Pappé explains why he believes Zionism has entered its final phase, how Israeli society is disintegrating internally, and what a just future for Palestinians and Israelis could look like.
Pappé, director of the European Centre for Palestine Studies and author of The Ethnic Cleansing of Pales
122. The Political Insider: How Social Media Is Quietly Rewiring UK Democracy with Mike Martin MP
Is the UK really on the brink of collapse - or are we victims of our own narratives?
In this revealing conversation, Dr. Mike Martin, former British Army officer, author of Why We Fight, and now Member of Parliament, breaks down what’s really driving Britain’s political, social, and moral crisis.
From the rise of authoritarian narratives to the weaponization of social media, Mike reveals why our b
121. Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib: The Palestinian Who Refuses the Script
What if the real story of Gaza isn’t about sides but about people?
In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, a Palestinian writer and policy analyst from Gaza, breaks through decades of noise, propaganda, and polarization to share what life in Gaza really means.
From surviving war to speaking truth in the West, Ahmed reveals the human reality behind the headlines, th
120. Professor Zlatko Hadzidedic on 30 Years of Authoritarian Rule
Why does nationalism look less like a mistake and more like a structural feature of modern capitalism? In this provocative and deeply researched episode, Professor Zlatko Hadžidedić explains why nationalism often functions as the social glue that stabilizes capitalism’s contradictions and why the current phase of hyper-capitalism risks producing more authoritarian nationalisms over the next decade
119. Genocide, Gaza, and Global Justice — with Professor William Schabas
In this landmark episode, Professor William Schabas — one of the world’s foremost experts on international criminal law and the legal architect behind much of our modern understanding of genocide — joins The Voices of War to unpack the explosive legal and political debates surrounding Israel’s war in Gaza.
🔥 With over 20 books and 400 articles to his name, Schabas walks us through:
What legally
118. The Rules-Based Order: Can the West Defend What It Undermines? with Dr Trita Parsi
As the world fractures into competing blocs and narratives, the so-called "rules-based international order" is under growing strain. From Gaza to Ukraine, accusations of hypocrisy, selective enforcement, and double standards are eroding trust in the West’s claim to moral and legal authority.
In this episode of The Voices of War, I’m joined by Dr. Trita Parsi, Executive Vice President of the Quincy
117. Westlessness Explained: Decline, Division, and a New Global Era with Dr Samir Puri
In this episode of The Voices of War, I speak with Dr Samir Puri—former British diplomat, Senior Fellow at King’s College London, and author of Westlessness: The Great Global Rebalancing—to explore the seismic global shift away from Western dominance.
We unpack the concept of “Westlessness”, which Dr Puri defines as the psychological and strategic unravelling of the West’s central role in global a
116. Bearing Witness in Gaza: MSF, Neutrality, and the Fight for Dignity with Ashley Killeen
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has left hospitals in ruins, humanitarian corridors blocked, and millions of civilians struggling to survive. In this episode of The Voices of War, Maz speaks with Ashley Killeen, Director of Engagement at Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Australia & New Zealand, about what it means to provide humanitarian aid in Gaza while upholding neutrality in the face of accu
115. The Battle for Reality: AI, Disinformation & Information Warfare with Carl Miller
In this episode of The Voices of War, I’m joined once again by Carl Miller, investigative researcher and author of The Death of the Gods. This is Carl’s third time on the show, and arguably his most urgent.
We explore:
Why AI isn’t just a tool—it’s a battlefield
How governments and companies manipulate LLMs
Emotional bonds with AI and their strategic risks
Digital addiction, dopamine loops
114. Military Ethics in the Age of Impunity: Gaza, Ukraine, and the Soldier’s Dilemma
As civilian suffering mounts in Gaza and Ukraine, the moral rules of war appear increasingly irrelevant—and yet, militaries continue to train soldiers in ethics and restraint.
In this powerful and timely conversation, Maz speaks with Dr. Pauline Shanks Kaurin, former Stockton Chair of Ethics at the U.S. Naval War College, and Dr. David Whetham, Professor of Ethics at King’s College London, to expl
113. What the Headlines Don’t Show: Inside the Middle East’s Hidden Wars with Nadim Shehadi
As the world watches Gaza burn, Iran tremble, and diplomacy stall, what if the real war isn't between nations—but within them?
In this powerful episode, Maz is joined once again by Lebanese economist and seasoned political analyst Nadim Shehadi to explore the often-overlooked internal fractures driving conflict in the Middle East.
🔥 Key Themes
Israel’s impunity — and the global powers that enabl
112. The Voices of War Returns — And I Have Questions
🎙️ The Voices of War is a podcast that cuts through the noise to explore the unseen realities of war, peace, and power.
Hosted by Vedran ‘Maz’ Maslić—former refugee, and intelligence officer—this show brings you unfiltered conversations with those whose lives have been shaped by conflict: survivors, scholars, diplomats, soldiers, and even perpetrators.
In this new season, after a year-long pause,
111. Lest We Forget: Our Duty Is Not To The People with David McBride
David McBride, a retired Major and former legal officer in the Australian Army, discusses his actions of leaking information to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that ultimately led to the exposure of alleged war crimes committed by Australian soldiers in Afghanistan. David highlights the political manipulation of the war narrative and emphasises the need for clear rules of engagement.
110. 🎙 AI's Impact on Massive Death Toll in Gaza with Meron Rapoport
Summary
The conversation with Meron Rapoport, an Israeli journalist, focuses on the use of AI in Israel's bombing campaign in Gaza. The investigation reveals that an AI machine, called Lavender, was used to create a list of targets, resulting in a high death toll and destruction. The conversation covers the level of involvement in the investigation, the role of military censorship in Israel, the s
109. Chris Gunness: Israel's Opposition to UNRWA and the Campaign to Delegitimise the Organisation
Chris Gunness discusses the role and mandate of UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, and the challenges it faces amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza. He highlights the size and scope of UNRWA's operations, providing education, healthcare, and social services to millions of Palestinian refugees across the Middle East. Chris also addresses the historical context
108. Return of The Voices Of War
In this monologue, I reflect on my absence before expressing frustration with the limited and oversimplified coverage of war and conflict, especially Israel's war on Gaza. I unequivocally criticise Israel's actions, highlighting the need to look beyond headlines and focus on immediate reduction of human suffering. I also announce upcoming interviews with experts to shed light on geopolitical machi
107. 2023 Wrap-Up: A Year of Insight and Inquiry
As 2023 draws to a close, I want to take a moment in this special year-end episode to reflect on the enlightening journey we've embarked on together through 'The Voices Of War.' This year, we’ve traversed a wide array of topics, spanning more than 35 hours of interviews across 26 episodes, reaching over 100,000 downloads, and connecting with listeners in more than 150 countries.
Our conversation
106. Jason Pack – Aspirations of Peace in the Middle East: A Deep Dive into Regional Dynamics and the Global Enduring Disorder
Today, I spoke with Jason Pack, author of the acclaimed book ‘Libya and the Global Enduring Disorder’, and a recognised expert on the Middle East. Jason also hosts the excellent Disorder podcast and serves as a senior analyst for emerging challenges at the NATO college in Rome. With over two decades of research in the Middle East, Jason brings a unique perspective to understanding the complexities
105. Professor Greg Barton - Terrorism, Jihadism, and Violent Extremism: Exploring the Roots and Impacts of Radicalisation
Today, I spoke with Professor Greg Barton, a prominent Australian academic with a distinguished career specialising in global Islamic politics and countering violent extremism. His expertise, particularly in the realm of Islamic thought, positions him as a leading authority on issues of terrorism, extremism, and the development of effective interventions. Author of several influential articles a
104. Nadim Shehadi – Beyond Gaza: Unpacking the Middle East’s Entrenched Conflicts and Power Dynamics
Today, I spoke with Nadim Shehadi, a distinguished Lebanese economist and academic, who delved into the intricate mesh of Palestinian, Israeli, and broader Middle Eastern politics, economics, and conflicts. With a rich background that spans prestigious positions at the Fletcher School, Chatham House, and Oxford as well as personal experiences of previous wars in Lebanon and beyond, Nadim brings
103. Dr David Livingstone Smith - Dehumanisation in the Israel-Palestine War and its consequences
Today, I spoke with Dr David Livingstone Smith, who is a philosophy professor at the University of New England. He specialises in the study of dehumanisation and mass violence. David is the author of several award-winning books, including ‘Less Than Human: Why We Demean, Enslave and Exterminate Others’ as well as ‘On Inhumanity: Dehumanization and How to Resist It’. David’s most recent book that
102. Special Release: Chris Gunness - Scratching Beneath the Complexity of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
My guest today is Chris Gunness who is a seasoned journalist and diplomat with decades of experience reporting on and working in the Middle East. Chris began his career at the BBC in 1982, and for 23 years, he served in numerous capacities including reporter and foreign correspondent. In 2005, he transitioned to diplomacy, joining the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Pr
101. Professor Rashid Khalidi - Understanding the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: An Exploration of Root Causes and Geopolitical Dynamics
In today's episode, I am honoured to host Professor Rashid Khalidi, a distinguished scholar and the Edward Said Professor of Modern Arab Studies at Columbia University. Known for his profound insights into Middle Eastern politics, Professor Khalidi is also the author of the ground-breaking book ‘100 Years' War on Palestine: A History of Settler Colonialism and Resistance, 1917–2017’. He joined me
100. Carl Miller - The AI Revolution: Exploring its Ethical, Social, and Political Ramifications
Today, I welcome back Carl Miller, a leading expert in the ethics of artificial intelligence and the Research Director at Demos, a UK-based think tank. After his insightful discussion on information warfare, cyber-attacks, and weaponisation of social media in Episode 51, Carl returns to delve deeper into the ethical, social, and political ramifications of AI. From exploring the centralisation of p
99. Special Release: Vlad Sakovich - The View from Russia: An In-Depth Conversation on Anti-War Activism under Putin’s Regime
In this compelling episode, we explore the challenges and realities of anti-war activism in Russia with Moscow-based educator and activist, Vlad Sakovich. From the risks of questioning the regime to the complexities of fostering dialogue, Vlad provides a nuanced look into the intricacies of activism in a restrictive environment.
Brief Summary of Vlad Sakovich:
Vlad Sakovich is a Moscow-based educa
98. Dr. Jonathan French Flint - Navigating the Ethical Maze of War: On Strategic Theory and Military Ethics
In today's episode, I sit down with Dr. Jonathan French Flint, an Inamori Research Associate at Case Western Reserve University with a focus on military ethics and strategic theory.
Dr. Flint has a background in teaching in the UK and has presented his work at a range of academic venues, including the United States Army Command and General Staff College. He has also made contributions to military
97. Yousuf Sediq – The War in Afghanistan: Exploring its Complexities, Absurdities, and Challenges with an Afghan Special Forces Commander
Today's episode is a compelling and insightful conversation with Yousuf Sediq, a former Afghan Special Forces Operator and the author of '5000 Days of War: The Firsthand Account of an Afghan Special Forces Operator.'
Yousuf's book is an honest and vivid portrayal of his experiences in the Afghan war, offering unparalleled insight through the eyes of a native Afghan who grew up under Taliban r
96. LTC Kevin Cutright - Empathy Unleashed: Transforming Military Decision-Making and Operational Effectiveness
In today's episode, my guest is Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Cutright, a prominent Associate Professor in the Department of English and Philosophy at the US Military Academy, West Point. Kevin's extensive in-the-field experiences have fuelled his exploration into the ethical aspects of military planning and conduct, the role of empathy, and the concept of moral injury.
We delve deep into the sig
95. Heidi Langbein-Allen - From Propaganda to Desperation: Understanding Nazi Indoctrination of German Youth in Hitler’s Army
My guest today is Heidi Langbein-Allen who recently published the memoirs of her father, Willi Langbein, who at the age of 13 was forced to fight for the Nazis.
The book is called ‘Save the Last Bullet: Memoir of a boy soldier in Hitler’s Army’ and it vividly explores the use of propaganda and misinformation to give moral weight to an otherwise losing and abhorrent cause. It is also a story of los
94. Special Release: Dr Mike Martin - Cracks in Putin’s Autocracy: Dissent, Mutiny, and Shifting Tides
Today, I spoke with Dr Mike Martin who is one of the go-to voices for insights and analysis of the war in Ukraine.
Mike has authored several books, amongst which is still one of my favourites on conflict titled ‘Why We Fight’. Mike also recently released a new book titled, ‘How to Fight a War’, that details why wars are won and why they are lost. The book is getting released in Australia on the 1s
93. Dr Neil Greenberg - Battlefield Minds: Understanding the Complexities of Military Mental Health
Today, I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Neil Greenberg, an esteemed clinical and academic psychiatrist based at King's College London. With a remarkable 23 years of experience in the United Kingdom Armed Forces, Neil has provided psychiatric care and conducted extensive research in challenging environments, including Afghanistan and Iraq.
In addition to his invaluable practical experien
92. Hasan Aygun - Turkish Elections Unveiled: Erdogan’s Rise to Power, Dimming of Democracy, and Geopolitical Ramifications
My guest today is Hasan Aygun, who is a prominent Turkish security analyst with an extensive career in international relations, global security issues and conflict management both as a diplomat and later as a political adviser.
Some of our long-time listeners might recognise Hasan’s biography, as he appeared on the show all the way back in June of 2021. To hear more about Hasan’s extensive backgro
91. Dr Greta Uehling - Understanding the Donbas: Identity, People, and its role in the Russia-Ukraine War
Today, I spoke with Dr Greta Uehling, who is a lecturer at the University of Michigan and whose scholarship is concerned with international migration and forced displacement. Her most recent project explored the subjective experience of the military conflict and forced displacement in Ukraine. Based on years of research living in Ukraine, she documented how the military conflict that started in
90. Dr David Kilcullen - Decoding Geopolitics and the emerging Multipolar World
My guest today is Dr David Kilcullen, who is a renowned military strategist, scholar, and former soldier and diplomat who has served both the Australian and United States governments for three decades now. He is an expert in the fields of guerrilla warfare, terrorism, urbanisation, and the future of conflict.
David has authored several influential books, including ‘The Accidental Guerrilla’,
89. Ambassador Robert ‘Bob’ Bowker - Understanding the Middle East: Lessons from Five Decades of Life and Work in the Region
My guest today is Dr Robert ‘Bob’ Bowker whose career in the politics and analysis of the Middle East spans five decades. He spent 37 years as an Australian diplomat in the region, firstly on postings to Saudi Arabia (74-06), and Syria (79-81) and later as the Australian ambassador to Jordan (89-92), Egypt (05-08) as well as non-resident ambassador to Syria, Libya, Tunisia, and Sudan. Bob also h
88. Will Storr - The Status Game: Understanding Its Significance, Implications, and Why We Play It
Today, I spoke with Will Storr, who is an award-winning writer whose work has appeared in titles such as The Guardian, The Sunday Times, The New Yorker and The New York Times. He is the author of six critically acclaimed books, including ‘Selfie: How the West became self-obsessed’, ‘The Heretics: Adventures with the enemies of science’, as well as the Sunday Times Bestseller ‘The Science of Storyt
87. Special Release: Robert Hartley - From War Zone to Ketamine: A Veteran’s Journey Through Trauma and Healing
Please note that this entire episode is available on the public channel. To gain access to all other episodes, please subscribe at https://thevoicesofwar.supercast.com/
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Today, I spoke with Robert Hartley, who is a former Australian Army Officer who served for 12 years in the Artillery Corps before transitioning to a civilian career in the technology sector. During his time in the military, Ro
86. Professor Christopher Coyne - Monsters, Empires, and Illusions of Peace: Navigating the Perils of American Interventionism
Today, I spoke with Dr Christopher Coyne, who is a Professor of Economics at George Mason University and the Associate Director of the F. A. Hayek Program for Advanced Study in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at the Mercatus Center.
He is the author of five books and numerous academic articles, book chapters, and policy studies. He joins me today to discuss his latest book, In Search of Monste
85. Dr Elizabeth Boulton - Tackling the Climate Change Hyperthreat: Plan E, Entangled Security and harnessing a Hyper-response
My guest today is Dr Elizabeth Boulton, who is an eco-military theorist with Destination Safe Earth, and a research affiliate with the ‘Climate Change & (In)Security Project’ which is a collaboration between the University of Oxford, the Centre for Historical Analysis and Conflict Research (CHACR) and the British Army.
She joins me today to discuss her thinking behind the concepts of ‘Hyperth
84. Amos Fox - Beyond the illusion of manoeuvre: Navigating the clash between intentions and reality in modern warfare
My guest today is Amos Fox, who is an officer in the US Army with more than 24 years of service in uniform. Amos has written extensively on war and conflict over the past decade, producing over 60 publications. His work focuses on causal mechanisms to explain patterns in armed conflict. Much of Amos’ current writing addresses proxy war, land warfare, the Russo-Ukrainian War, and military thinking.
83. Dr Alison Broinowski - How Australia goes to war and the prospect of war powers reform
My guest today is Dr Alison Broinowski AM, who is an Australian academic, journalist, writer, and former Australian diplomat. She is also the President of Australians for War Powers Reform.
Alison joined me to explore the current debate on Australian troop deployment, compare it to other democracies, and discuss the possible outcome of the ongoing parliamentary enquiry into war powers.
Some of
82. Dr Samir Puri - Decoding the echoes of empire: how imperial legacies shape today’s geopolitics
This a reminder that The Voices Of War is transitioning to a subscription model from February. More info here.
Those wishing to subscribe can already do so here.
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My guest today is Dr Samir Puri, who is a visiting lecturer in War Studies at King’s College London and has previously taught at Cambridge and John Hopkins.
He joined me for a deep dive into his two most recent books. The first one, ‘
81. Professor Greg Barton - Understanding radicalisation, extremism and terrorism
This a reminder that The Voices Of War is transitioning to a subscription model from February. More info here.
Those wishing to subscribe can already do so here.
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Today, I’m speaking with Professor Greg Barton, who is a Research Professor in Global Islamic Politics at Deakin University. Greg is one of Australia’s leading scholars of radicalisation, terrorism and countering violent extremism. He
80. Dr Alex Lim - On veterans’ mental health: the good, the bad and the promising
This a reminder that The Voices Of War will adopt a subscription model. You can hear the explainer here.
You can subscribe to the new channel here.
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My guest today is Dr Alexander YC Lim, who is an Adjunct Associate Professor of Medicine with the Queensland Brain Institute. He is a Psychiatrist in private practice, and now almost exclusively looks after members of the Australian Defence Force, t
79. Announcement of a significant change to The Voices Of War
To make the show sustainable into the future, The Voices Of War is adopting a subscription model starting in January 2023. Key points:
This channel will air full episodes until the end of January to allow those who wish to subscribe time to transition to the new channel
From February, this current channel will air only the first half of each episode and each episode will be bookended with a notice
78. Ye-Min Wu - Multilateral negotiations: on the trials and tribulations of building peace
My guest today is Ye-Min Wu, who is the South & Southeast Asia Director at the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue. Ye-Min joined HD earlier this year after more than 15 years as a diplomat representing Singapore at the United Nations, World Intellectual Property Organization, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change as well as the World Trade Organisation. She has also chaired UN negotiations and r
77. Special Release: Natalia Konstantinova - How Russians view the invasion of Ukraine
My guest today is Natalia Konstantinova, who is better known by her social media handle, Natasha from Russia. She is a popular Russian blogger and vlogger whose original aim was to help explain Russia to the outside world, but since her country's invasion of Ukraine, she has become a prominent voice about how this war is perceived in Russia.
Some of the questions we explored are: What does the ave
76. Andrew Quilty - ’August in Kabul’ and the return of the Taliban
My guest today is Andrew Quilty, an Australian photojournalist, investigative journalist, and author. Andrew is the recipient of eight Walkley Awards, including the Gold Walkley, for his work in Afghanistan, where he has been based since 2013. He joined me to discuss his recently published book, August in Kabul: America's last days in Afghanistan, which is an intimate and deeply personal account o
75. Dr Pauline Shanks Kaurin - On obedience and the fine line between hero and villain
Today, I'm speaking with Dr Pauline Shanks Kaurin who is a Professor of Professional Military Ethics at the US Naval War College where she specialises in military ethics, just war tradition and applied ethics.
She is the author of ‘On Obedience: Contrasting Philosophies for Military, Citizenry and Community’, which is a book we discussed today. As you will find out, the subject matter this book ad
74. Special Release: Jasmin Mujanovic - On the unfolding constitutional crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina - Part 2
This is Part 2 of my discussion with Dr Jasmin Mujanovic. If you haven’t listened to part 1 yet, I suggest you do that first, as elements of the remainder of the conversation may otherwise seem out of context. You can listen to part 1 here.
Some of the topics we cover in this part are:
Details of the controversial electoral law amendment made by the High Representative
Perceptions, real or otherwi
73. Special Release: Jasmin Mujanovic - On the unfolding constitutional crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina - Part 1
My guest today is Dr Jasmin Mujanovic, who is a political scientist and policy specialist in southeast European and international affairs. He has worked as a scholar, policy analyst, consultant, researcher, and writer in both North America and Europe.
Jasmin’s academic research concentrates primarily on the politics of contemporary south-eastern Europe, with a particular focus on the politics of
72. Special Release: Wolfgang Sporrer - On diplomacy alongside combat operations in Ukraine
My guest today is Wolfgang Sporrer who is an Adjunct Professor at the Hertie School in Berlin and who was until 2020 the head of the Human Dimension Department of the OSCE in Ukraine.
Wolfgang has joined me on the show twice before, where we discussed the lead-up to the Russian invasion of Ukraine as well as the ultimate reasons and consequences of Putin’s decision to go to war. You can find links
71. Dr Alexander Bellamy - R2P, Just War and prospects of World Peace - Part 2
This is Part 2 of my discussion with Dr Alex Bellamy, author of ‘World Peace And How We Can Achieve It’, which was the basis for our discussion. If you haven’t listened to Part 1 yet, I suggest you do that first as some discussions in part 2 might otherwise seem out of context. You can listen to part 1 here.
Like in part 1, we covered many topics, including:
Are humans wired for violence?
How stat
70. Dr Alexander Bellamy - R2P, Just War and prospects of World Peace - Part 1
Today, I spoke with Dr Alex Bellamy, who is a professor of peace and conflict studies and director of the Asia Pacific Centre for the responsibility to protect at the University of Queensland.
He is the author of numerous books, including ‘World Peace And How We Can Achieve It’, which was the basis for our discussion today. However, as you’ll hear, we covered many topics, including:
Outline of Res
69. Amanda Hsiao - China, US and Taiwan: A deep dive
Today, I spoke with Amanda Hsiao who is the Senior Analyst for China at the International Crisis Group. She joined me to shed some light on the increasing tensions between Washington and Beijing.
Amanda did this by tackling questions such as:
What are key points of difference in the US and Chinese worldviews?
Why are both sides intentionally elevating tensions?
What has led to the current change i
68. Special Release: Dr Mike Martin and John Spencer - An update on Ukraine
Today, I spoke with Dr Mike Martin and John Spencer who joined me for an update on the situation in Ukraine.
This conversation was recorded just after 9pm on the evening of 22nd of September, Ukraine time.
Some of the topics we covered are:
Impact of recent Russian battlefield losses
Significance of Putin’s ‘partial mobilisation’ and what it might mean
Attrition vs. Manoeuvre warfare
Possible next
67. Paul Ingram - On the threat of nuclear war and hopes of disarmament
My guest today is Paul Ingram, who is the Academic Programme Manager at the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk (CSER) at the University of Cambridge.
Up to a few months ago, he was also the Director of Emergent Change, which he established to further the understanding and practice of the Stepping Stones Approach (SSA) to nuclear disarmament. Prior to that, he was the Executive Director at Br
66. Dr Jessica Wolfendale - On torture, war crimes and moral responsibility - Part 2
This is Part 2 of my conversation with Dr Jessica Wolfendale, who is an author, ethics professor and expert on torture and war crimes. If you've missed Part 1 of this discussion, I suggest you listen to that first here.
Some of the topics we covered in Part 2 are:
The dispositional account and cognitive-affective personality system
Military culture and socialisation
Freedom and resentment
Moral ig
65. Dr Jessica Wolfendale - On torture, war crimes and moral responsibility - Part 1
This is Part 1 of my conversation with Dr Jessica Wolfendale, who is an author, ethics professor and expert on torture and war crimes. She joined me to try and tackle the dichotomy of how to reconcile one’s perception of oneself with one’s actions, within the context of atrocities carried out in war.
She does this by asking questions such as, ‘How do good people commit atrocities, like torture, a
64. John Spencer - On Ukraine, Urban Warfare and lessons learnt
Today, I spoke with John Spencer who is an award-winning scholar, professor, author, combat veteran, and internationally recognised expert and advisor on Urban Warfare and other military related topics. John currently serves as the Chair of Urban Warfare Studies with the Madison Policy Forum and was until recently the Chair of Urban Warfare Studies at the Modern War Institute at West Point. He is
63. Dr Ned Dobos - On the unaccounted costs of maintaining a military
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My guest today is Dr Ned Dobos, who is a Senior Lecturer in International and Political Studies at the University of New South Wales in Canberra. He joined me to discuss his more-recent book, ‘Ethics, Security, and the War Machine: the True Cost of the Military’. Some of the topics w
62. Abby Zeith and Ruben Stewart: International Humanitarian Law in Urban Warfare
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Our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thevoicesofwar
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My guests today are Abby Zeith and Ruben Stewart from the International Committee of the Red Cross. Abby is a Legal Adviser in ICRC’s Arms and Conduct of Hostilities Unit where her work focuses on urban warfare and the conduct of hostilities more generally.
Ruben is a
61. Brigadier Mark Ascough - On Military Intelligence
Today, I’m speaking with Brigadier Mark Ascough, who is the current Director General of Intelligence at the Headquarters Joint Operations Command of the Australian Defence Force.
Brigadier Ascough joined me to talk about all things intelligence and how he sees the field evolve into the future. Some of the things we covered are:
Mark’s background and entry into the Army
Life as the J2, HQJOC
The r
60. Dr Tony Ingesson - On military sub-cultures and their impact on behaviour
My guest today in Dr Tony Ingesson, who is an Assistant Professor of Intelligence Analysis at the Department of Political Science at Lund University in Sweden. His current research interests are decision-making, organisational cultures and technological aspects related to intelligence and counterintelligence. For his PhD dissertation, Tony studied tactical decision-making in high-stress situations
